Music mash up collectable card game

ABSTRACT

An intuitive music composition game platform with various modes of operation in a single reader system and a music mash up collectable card game and method using cards with tags and unique identifications. A single reading platform includes a cover for card storage and for supporting a smart device platform for reading many Near Field communication (NFC) embedded cards, with stacking features and colored light indicated input lanes selection for user identification and selection. Various game modes include individual, studio mix, party modes game play features in music mash up collectable card games, which may be used together with or independent of accessory devices as controllers, or smart device user interfaces with Bluetooth™ or Wi-Fi for communicating user selection and operation.

PRIORITY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or 120from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/925,328 filed Mar. 19, 2018,and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/472,847, filed Mar. 17, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game system and more particularly toa music mash up collectable card game system and method using cards withtags and unique identifications, a single reading platform and a coverfor card storage and for supporting a smart device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The known prior art of interest for electronic musical composition gamesuse extended surface game play areas for accommodating multipleseparately received game components, tokens or cards at different spacesor slots at a matrix of sensors with respect to the game surface. BothU.S. Pat. No. 6,525,252 issued to Klausen, et al. (hereafter ‘Klausen’)in 2003 for a “Device for Composing and Arranging Music,” and U.S.Publication No. 2010/0043625 A1 published in 2010 to Van Geenen, et al.(hereafter ‘Van Geenen’) for a “Musical Composition System and Method ofControlling a Generation of a Musical Composition” disclose devices forcomposing, arranging music, game boards and game play incorporatingsensor devices, a plurality of game pieces, tokens or blocks for beingreceived or arranged at sending or receiving positions with variousplayback game modes. The sensor device has a plurality of receivingpositions, with pre-determined musical features, notes, beats, clips orsamples for suitable musical features. These systems provide for spatialplacement tokens by users on a spatial board configuration, determiningrespective locations and types of an assembly of tokens placed in aspatial configuration for translating a spatial ordering of the tokensin the spatial configuration into a temporal ordering, includingarranged to detect or prevent at least an attempted placement of a tokenof a certain type at a position in the spatial ordering violating any ofat least one constraint associated with the certain type.

Klausen discloses as an example, a musical block system includingseveral musical blocks 1 a-1 d, FIG. 1, a plate part 2, FIG. 2, a sensorpart 5, FIG. 3, and an optional sensor block. The musical blockrepresents a note, a rhythm, a melodic sequence or other musicalparameters. Each musical block may have a different shape and/or colorand must be able to be stacked vertically. The plate part is an objectto which the blocks are attached and is a two-dimensional array (x andy) where one axis equals time and the other axis determines whichinstrument/sample track to activate. The sensor part is able todetermine where the blocks are placed on the plate part and which typeof block each is. The sensor part includes a loudspeaker 6, a microphone7, a connecting part 4, and a control panel 8 having a number of controlbuttons 9 a-9 c, such as ‘play’, ‘record’ and ‘stop’. The differentpositions of the blocks along the y-axis may represent differentinstrument tracks and each sub-population represents a certain musicalfeature. The sensor part determines position of the blocks and to whichsub-population they belong allowing the creation of music composition,arrangements, soundscapes or other musical expressions. As blocks aremoved the composition is changed accordingly.

The tokens 5, 6, 7 of Van Geenen, are configured for placement by a userin a spatial configuration on a playing surface 8 of the game board 2.The playing surface 8 comprises a number of fields 9, arranged in rows10 a-10 e and columns 11 a-11 j. The columns determine a spatialordering, which is translated into a temporal ordering by the controlunit 3. That is to say that a first column 11 a represents a first timeinterval of the composition and that the time advances by a certain timeinterval with each column. The time interval may be an absolute timeinterval or a relative time interval. For example, each column 11 mayrepresent a bar, a beat or a note of a particular duration, depending onthe chosen granularity.

The Van Geenen game board 2 includes sensors 13 positioned within thegame board and arranged to determine the types of tokens placed on afield present over the respective sensor 13. The sensor 13 may be a typeof connector for mating with a corresponding connector on a token placedon the field, so as to interrogate the token as to its type and that ofany token stacked on top of it. In another embodiment, the tokens 5-7are provided with Radio-Frequency Identification tags, and the sensors13 comprise transceivers for reading out type information from the tags.Other wireless or wired variants are conceivable, such as those usingnear field communication.

The Van Geenen interface 14 in the game board 2 allows the respectivelocations and types of the tokens 5-7 assembled in a spatialconfiguration on the playing surface 8 to be communicated to the controlunit 3 via a corresponding interface 15 in the control unit 3. Thelatter comprises a processor 16, programmed by means of instructionsstored in a memory unit 17. The processor 16 has access to a furthermemory unit 18 containing data representative of composition rules aswell as a database relating token types to aspects of musical fragments.The processor 16 is also able to control the visual display unit 4, aswell as an audio output stage 19 for driving a speaker system 20. TheVan Geenen spatial configuration, i.e., the amalgamation of thesub-assemblies of tokens, is placed on different game boards 2,connected to control units in communication with each other. In thatcase, the users of the several game boards 2 could collaborate over adistance to compose a single piece of music. Such a system allowing forcollaboration is even easier to implement using several embodiments ofthe second composition system. In particular the second compositionsystem may dispense with a game board on which tokens are to be placed,but may instead use only representations of interlocking blocks or othertypes of tangible objects. Tokens of different dimensions may be used torepresent aspects of fragments of corresponding different lengths, i.e.durations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions facilitate an intuitive music platform withvarious modes of operation and game play including individual, studiomix, party modes as well as game play features in a music mash upcollectable card game, with user interface features, methods andapparatus which may be used together with or independent of accessorydevices as controllers, such as smartphones or smart device userinterfaces.

In a present described embodiment a single reader game system may have atruncated pyramid platform with an actuator or a circular platform witha rotating actuator in an alternate embodiment. The platform is able toread many cards, each card having NFC embedded technology. The platformsuse LEDs for input selection for slots or lanes. Bluetooth™ Smart Lowenergy (BTLE or BLE) may be used for communicating platform position oractuator use with light indicators for user selection and operation. Theplaying card game system centers around an electronic device, such as asmart phone or a tablet computer or other similar device, with a videogame or scoring App running on the smart device. The smart device willcommunicate with the first housing, having the smart device wired linkor as in the present embodiment wireless via Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi oranother wireless similar protocol.

The single reader game system is compact and lightweight and is idealfor portability, allowing players to easily transport the apparatus. Thesystem is of a simple yet rugged construction so as to produce a lowcost structure.

Briefly summarized, the invention relates to a playing card reader gamesystem for reading a plurality of type information identifiers, thesystem including a multiplicity of integrated circuit tags, each tagincluding type information identifiers, a multiplicity of playing cards,each card including at least one tag for transmitting one or more of thetype information identifiers associated with the tag of each card, afirst housing comprising a single reading area at a surface region ofthe housing for collecting a plurality of the cards each placed seriallywith one another in a series forming a collection of two or more cardsat the surface region of the housing, an antenna subsystem in thehousing with an antenna signal range to receive the type informationidentifiers associated with the collection of cards at the surfaceregion, a tag reader for reading the type information identifiersreceived with the antenna subsystem from each card of the collection ofcards at the surface region, a light source for simultaneouslyilluminating one or more of a multiplicity of illuminating colors inrelation to the surface region of the housing, an actuator for changingone or more of the illuminating colors, the actuator further selectingthe type information identifiers associated with the cards at thesurface region to be received with the antenna subsystem, an informationprocessor, and an audio subsystem in communication with the informationprocessor at the first housing for issuing announcement sounds and musiccomposition sounds responsive to the tag reader, light source andactuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, theaccompanying drawings and detailed description illustrate preferredembodiments thereof, from which the invention, its structures, itsconstruction and operation, its processes, and many related advantagesmay be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a closed card reader game system.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the game system shown in FIG. 1, with acover storing a deck of cards being removed from a reading platform.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the game system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,with the cover inverted in a smart phone holder position, the deck ofcards removed and a reading surface exposed.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the game system shown in FIGS. 1-3, inplay with a first card being placed on the reading surface and a smartphone being supported by the cover.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the game system FIGS. 1-4, in play with asecond card being stacked on top of the first card, both being on thereading surface.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the game system FIGS. 1-5, in play with athird card being stacked on the reading surface on top of both the firstand second cards.

FIG. 7 is a plan and elevation view of the game system FIGS. 1-6, in aclosed configuration.

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the game system shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the game system with a single actuator.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sample card.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another sample card.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in the form of a cylindrically shaped game system.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the game system shown in FIG. 12,illustrating a reading surface.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the game apparatus shown in FIG. 13,illustrating a playing card on the reading surface.

FIG. 15 is an upward looking isometric view of the bottom of the gameapparatus shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is the same view of the game system as shown in FIG. 15, butwith an open battery compartment.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the game system shown in FIGS. 12-17,illustrating the reader.

FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the game system shown in FIGS. 12-17,with the bottom removed to illustrate internal electronics.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the game system identical to shown inFIGS. 12-19, illustrating the playing card in a first position on thereading surface.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the game system identical to FIG. 19, butillustrating the playing card on the reading surface rotated 90°.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the game system identical to FIG. 19, butillustrating the playing card on the reading surface rotated 180°.

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the game system identical to FIG. 19, butillustrating the playing card on the reading surface rotated 270°.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the artto make and use the described embodiments set forth in the best modecontemplated for carrying out the invention. An intuitive musiccomposition game platform with various modes of operation in a singlereader system and a single reading platform includes a cover for cardstorage and for supporting a smart device platform for reading playingcards with stacking features and colored light indicated selection andother indicia for user identification and selection. Various game modesinclude individual, studio mix, party modes game play features in musicmash up collectable card games, which may be used together with orindependent of accessory devices as controllers, or smart device userinterface selection and operation communications. Various modifications,equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readilyapparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications,variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

Each playing card includes at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip tagembedded with each playing card, with each tag including typeinformation identifiers for transmitting one or more of the typeinformation identifiers associated with the tag of each playing card.The tag has circuitry and memory for data storage and transmission andmay be provided as a Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID), Bluetooth™ (BLE) or Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BTLE)tags or other similar communications means to store and transmit typeinformation identifiers. In the present embodiment NFC type tags areemployed that uniquely identify the type information identifiers. TheNFC tag reader for reading the type information identifiers are receivedvia an antenna subsystem from each card of the collection of cards atthe surface region of the housing, uses a single NFC tag reader loopantenna subsystem in the housing with an antenna signal range to receivethe type information identifiers associated with the collection of cardsat the surface region to read the tag and its unique identifiers. TheNFC reader and antenna subsystems of the present described embodimentmay be provided as an NXP-brand reader chip that handles NFCcommunication protocol, however other tag IC chips may be used such asRFID, BLE or BTLE tags or the like. The tags antenna subsystem is fairlytypical with loops or coils of copper insulated wire, or a printedcircuit board (PCB) antenna may be used or other antennae configurationsoptimized to ensure FCC compliance.

The information processor used with the NFC tag reader and antennasubsystems for reading the type information identifiers may employ anARM processor, known in the industry. The type information identifiersare received in relation to a light source for simultaneouslyilluminating one or more of a multiplicity of illuminating colors inrelation to the surface region of the housing and operates LEDs there atas one or more light sources. The actuator switch or the like isprovided for changing one or more of the illuminating colors. Theactuator facilitates use of the single reading area at a surface regionto avoid the need for multiple spatial slots or a matrix of sensors. Theactuator is further used to select the type information identifiersassociated with the cards at the surface region to be received with theantenna subsystem in association with game play, also using an audiosubsystem in communication with at the first housing for issuingannouncement sounds and music composition sounds responsive to the tagreader, light source and actuator, and plays sounds along with havingother capabilities.

Certain techniques for issuing announcement sounds and music compositionwith responsive light source and actuator or sensor structures includeApplicants' Assignees U.S. Pat. No. 8,088,003 to Bickerton, et al. for“Audio/visual display toy for use with rhythmic responses” issued Jan.3, 2012 disclosing a game having a base structure including an array oflights with associated music, and U.S. Patent Application No.2017/0186411 A1 to Mintz, et al. for “Apparatus, Systems, and Methodsfor Music Generation” published Jun. 29, 2017 (hereafter ‘Mintz’)relating to game play composing musical compositions using musicalcontent to synthesize music, which are each herein incorporated byreference in their entirety. The smart device is in communication withthe information processor with the tag reader identifying the typeinformation identifiers received for use by the smart device.

A commercial version of the Mintz game is presently being marketed byApplicants' Assignee under the brand DROPMIX™ and includes hardwarehaving five lanes for card play and a location for a smart device, suchas an iPhone™.

An embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 is acompact and portable single reader game system 10. The game systemincludes a first, lower, or platform housing 14 and a removable second,upper or cover 12. The game system is shaped generally as a geometricfrustum, or more particularly, generally as a truncated pyramid withrounded edges.

The cover 12 includes a smooth top surface 16, a recessed inner surface18, FIGS. 2 and 3, two peripheral ridges 20, 22 where each is bisectedby a groove 24, 26. The cover 12 is able to function as a storage binfor a collection of cards 28 placed on the inner surface 18 when thecover 12 is mounted to the platform 14 as shown FIG. 1, where the topsurface 16 is uppermost. When the cover is removed and inverted as shownin FIG. 3, after the cards are removed, the cover functions as a holderfor a smart device, such as a smart phone 30, FIGS. 4-6, which may beheld in the grooves 24, 26 and against the ridges 20, 22. The cover maybe formed of a flexible translucent material to indicate the position ofthe stored cards when viewed from the top. The material also allows thecover 12 to fit snugly to the platform 14 and the cards to fit snugly tothe cover.

The first platform housing 14 may have only one matted top readingsurface 40 FIGS. 2 and 3 providing a single reading area at a surfaceregion, to act as a lane or slot on which a multiplicity of cards (asmany as thirty), such as the cards 42, 44, 46, 48, FIG. 4, may bestacked. Each card includes embedded integrated circuit tags for nearfield communication technology (NFC) or a radio-frequency identificationsystem (RFID). A sensor or antenna subsystem 43 and tag reader andinformation processor 45 mounted in the platform may read each cardstacked on the top surface and transmits the unique type informationidentifiers of each card to the smart device 30 mounted to the cover 12.A speaker/microphone or audio subsystem 47 may also be mounted in theplatform. The audio subsystem 47 may be provided for issuing theannouncement and music composition sounds responsively with an outputspeaker for making audible sounds, and may further include a microphonefeature for receiving audible information from a game player user.

Slanted sidewalls 50, 52, 54, 56, FIG. 3, of the base platform 14 maysupport the top surface 40. One or more actuators may be mounted to theplatform and to be used by players during game play. The actuatorprovided may be mechanical switch electrical switch input as discussedbelow, or in the alternate may include encoded or potentiometerrotational turn switching for rotational input, other input mechanismsmay include touch or capacitive sensing or audible command switch inputsor the like. An actuator rim 60 may be mounted around the top surface40. As a further alternative, the actuator may include four switchpanels mounted to the four sidewalls. Two of the actuator panels 62, 64are shown in FIG. 3, mounted in the sidewalls 50, 52, respectively. Or,as another alternative, a single panel 66, FIG. 9, may be the actuator.Each player uses the actuator during game play as will be explained indetail below.

The electronics in the platform 14 may include a main processor andinformation processors for NFC, BTLE, BLE, Wi-Fi communication with iOSand Android or other smart devices like cell phones, iPads, Apple TV,Alexa, and Chromcast. An LED light or lights may be placed inconspicuous locations, such as along an upper rim light guide 70 and/oralong a lower border, or behind the actuator panels to function asbacklighting along the sides of the platform. The lights may function asfeedback to the players to provide information such as actions needed tobe taken, taken actions that are accepted, and/or those actions that arenot accepted. Each side of the platform may have its own feedback colorand may light up when information is directed to a player.

During play, a multiplicity of cards may be played by stacking them onthe reading surface 40, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. It is noted that thecards may be stacked without regard to the angle of placement of eachcard and yet the platform assembly will still read each card. Forexample, a first player may place the first card 42, FIG. 4, on the soletop surface 40. The tag or tags of the first card 42 is read by theplatform assembly and transmitted to the smart device 30, which mayrecord type information identifiers and assign points. A second playerduring his/her turn may then stack another card 80, FIG. 5, on top ofthe first card 42. The platform assembly reads the second card 80,transmits the card's information to the smart device 30 that may thenmake adjustments, such as by adding or subtracting players' points.Thereafter, the first or a third player may play a third card 82, FIG.6. The third card is stacked on top of the second card 80 to allow theplatform assembly to read the third card and transmit information to thesmart device. The smart device then makes appropriate adjustments to thegame. The system may read and make adjustments for up to thirty cardsstacked on the reading surface 40 during a game. The cards may becollectible and different decks may be used or developed to playdifferent games.

The system 10 may be formed of ABS plastic and measures about 6-7 inchessquare by 1-2 inches tall. Three AA/LR6 alkaline batteries may power thesystem having a voltage range of 2.7-4.8 volts. An LED may input lanescolored yellow/red, red, red/blue, blue, blue/green, with the lightsource being capable of simultaneously illuminating one or more of amultiplicity of illuminating colors in relation to the surface region ofthe housing, preferably a single or two colors at a time beingindicative of the type information identifiers associated with the cardsat the surface region to be received as discussed herein in connectionwith the described game play using color or other external visualindicia associated with playing cards that may be played by the gameplayer user. Players may change colors by tapping on the input actuator.This simulates the functionality of reader and the cards.

Referring now to the exploded view of FIG. 8 of the present describedembodiment, the top element of the system 10 is the cover 12 havingdimensions of approximately 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches. The next elementis an LED light guide 86, followed by the card reading surface 40. Thenext elements are the sidewalls 88, and the actuators, such as theactuator elements 62, 64 or the alternative actuator 66, FIG. 9,followed by a floor 90 and a base 92. Together the slanted sidewalls 50,52, 54, 56, elements 62, 64, light guide 86, and floor 90 form an outerperipheral bezel sloping face adjacent the surface region card readingsurface 40 single reading area, having dimensions of approximately 6.25inches by 6.25 inches. Thus the outer peripheral surface area of thesystem 10 footprint has an overall top plan view surface area of aboutforty (40) square inches. The top reading surface 40 at the surfaceregion provides the single reading area having dimensions ofapproximately 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches, with the single reading area ofthe surface region surface area of about twelve (12) square inches atthe card reading surface 40. The playing cards discussed herein havedimensions of approximately 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, with a surfacearea of about nine (9) square inches. In the circular platform singlereading area with a rotating actuator alternate embodiment of FIGS.12-22 discussed below, the outer bezel about the single reading areasurface region has a diameter of approximately 4.25 inches, with asurface area of about fourteen (14) square inches top reading surfacefor placement of the playing cards, as described herein.

Accordingly with the playing card surface area being about nine (9)square inches, and the single reading area surface region being abouttwelve (12) square inches with an overall surface area of about forty(40) square inches in the present described embodiment, while alternatecircular platform embodiment overall surface area and its single readingarea surface region has about fourteen (14) square inches, the systemoverall upper surface area ranges approximately between 14-40 squareinches. With reference to the approximate 9 square inch surface area ofthe playing cards, the system overall surface area ranges about one andone-half to four and one-half times (1.5-4.5×) the playing card surfacearea of the described embodiments, or approximately one to five times(1-5×) the playing card surface area generally, and preferably less than5.

Thus the system is generally sized to have overall top plan view surfacearea of less than five times that of the playing card surface area. Withthe single reading area of the present described embodiment surfaceregion surface area of about twelve (12) square inches, and the circularplatform single reading area alternate embodiment single reading areasurface region of about fourteen (14) square inches, with single readingarea surface region surface area thus ranging about one and one-half andless than two times (1.5-2×) the playing card surface area, preferablyless than 2. Thus the single reading area surface region surface area isgenerally less than two times that of the playing card surface area.Accordingly the single reading area surface region surface area isgenerally less than two times, with the overall system generally sizedwith surface area of less than five times that of the playing cardsurface areas respectively.

Each of the multiplicity of cards includes an integrated circuit tag 94,FIGS. 10 and 11, between paper layers, each card having dimensions ofapproximately 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. Printing may appear on bothsides or if desired just one side. In the alternative, other materialsuch as plastic layers may be used. The cards may be referred to as‘smart cards’ and each includes the NFC/RFID tag. Each card may athickness of about 350 microns (about 0.014 inches) and weighs about 300grams per square meter. Each card has a value and the value determineswhether one card ‘beats’ an opponent's card. Referring to FIG. 10, onetype of card, referred to as a ‘music card’ 100 may have a graphic 102with a name of the artist or song 104 immediately below the graphic. Inthe lower right corner an icon 106 may be placed indicating the deckfrom which the card comes. A symbol 108 in the lower left corner mayindicate the musical instrument the card represents and plays, and asymbol 110 in the upper left corner indicates the levels of intensity ofthe card's sound. The card may also have a color tone to match one ofthe colors of the LED light illuminating the platform, with stackingfeatures and colored light indicated selection or other indicia for useridentification and selection. When played by stacking on the readingsurface and pushing the actuator causes an equalizer to spin. Based onthe level of the top card the equalizer clears the cards and they areplaced on a discard pile. In a game called ‘Clash’ the equalizer mayonly instruct that the cards of an opponent are cleared.

In general terms, in one form of game play, cards are divided betweenplayer/opponents and a coin is flipped to determine which player goesfirst. Each player plays one or more cards per turn and when a card isplayed, the player receives a value or points. The value is added tothat player's score. To end a turn the player depresses the actuator. Ifneeded the light of the platform will light up to alert the player todepress the actuator. Play continues until a value or point threshold isreach by one of the players and that player is declared the winner.

In a game called ‘Game Master’ the App in the smart phone is like acasino dealer or the Dungeon Master of the game called Dungeon andDragons and the players are requested to guess a mix of music beingplayed. The music comes from a stack of cards loaded on the readingsurface. During set-up, each player stacks his/her cards on the readingsurface when given a green light. During reading the color will changeto red. During multiple rounds of play, the players are told to performcertain actions by the app. For example, a player may be told to stackthree orange cards on the reading surface. The platform may then lightup in the color orange and blink three times to confirm that the playercompleted a proper action. The platform may also use the speaker toannounce what it needs. A player may also give instructions to theplatform (through the microphone) of actions to take, for example,remove a certain amount of cards from another player. To do this, theplayers need to stack their cards face down on the reading surface andthe platform would announce that the other player must put a certainnumber of cards of a certain color on the reading surface. Playcontinues until one of the players has all of the cards.

In the Name that Mix (NTM) game mode the player explores Music Mixing byhaving the game mode that asks the users to guess the current mix ofmusic being played. The music comes from the stack of cards which theplayer users can stack as a collection to load into the game before thegame begins. The App will deconstruct all of the cards, taking each partof the song out, and the App will then create a random “mix” that hasparts from all of the cards that were placed on the system at the start.Since the reader system 10 provides 20 Wild Cards, the App will be ableto create over 40MM different combinations of mixes for the users toguess. The App will play a random mix from the pieces of music from thecards placed on the single reading area at the system 10 surface region.Each player takes turns trying to guess the parts of the mix beingplaying. The game play proceeds as follows: If a player/team thinks theyknow a certain part, they will place the card on the system 10;Player/Team taps the appropriate actuator of the color they want tochoose; Once it lands on a color they want, they will hit the actuatorto lock it in; Player/Team gets points for correct answer; Goal:Player/Team with the most points at the end of X rounds, wins. Playerswill take turns using the cards to guess the parts of the current mixplaying. To attempt a guess the player will place their card on thesystem and hit the actuator to illuminate the lane to the color of thepiece of the song they think is being played.

In the Clash game or mode each player may start with a personal deck of30 cards having six types of cards. Four basic card types, green bass,blue beat, red loop and yellow lead will each play a fixed audio samplewhen placed into a matching colored lane or slot on the platform.Multicolor wild cards may be placed into any lane or slot and playdifferent audio samples as a function of where the card is placed. FXcards trigger special events. They may be played in different lanesbased on their gameplay function. At the start of a game, the cards areshuffled and each player draws a hand of three to five cards dependingon the number of players. The system randomly selects a player to gofirst. On each turn each player may perform two actions from among thefollowing: play a basic or wild card into a matching lane or slot. Ifthe lane is already occupied the player must play a card of equal orhigher value. The light will indicate which player controls each lane.The player then plays an FX card and actuates the equalizer. Theequalizer randomly cycles through the cards on the platform and if itlands on an opponent's card, all of the opponent's cards are cleared ofpower value. Within three seconds after playing the second card theplayer's turn is over and he/she draws two cards.

Scoring of the clash game is as follows: when a player plays a card on alane one point is received. When an opponent's card is removed one pointis received. After the first turn, should one of the four basic colorsnot be represented on the board, one point is earned for adding a cardof the missing color. Should a player's cards occupy all five coloredlanes during a turn one more point is received.

In a game named ‘FX’ the cards may have a graphic 120, FIG. 11, a cardname 122, the card level 124 in the upper left hand corner, the card'sability 126 in the lower left corner and a deck icon 128. In a gamecalled ‘party,’ each player begins with fifteen cards and draws three tofive cards. The game lasts for five rounds and the app on the smartdevice will make requests of each player in each round. The requestscomes from different information contained on the cards, such as color,value, instrument and music type. After each round the app will announcethe number of cards to draw. The quicker a request is completed the morepoints are given. A bonus request is displayed after each round and morepoints are provided if the request is successfully completed. After fiverounds the scores are added and the game is over.

The single physical reading surface has a major advantage over olderapparatus in that it is compact and lightweight and is ideal forportability, allowing players to easily transport the system 10. Thesystem is also simply constructed and yet is rugged and robust so as toproduce a low cost structure. Because there is only one lane or zone inthe system, there is no confusion on where to play a card. Simply stackcards on top of each other with each player's turn and everything playsaccordingly. The system is about placing cards and interacting withlights and an actuator while the system provides feedback based on gameplay, only reading at the single reading area at the single surfaceregion of a housing for collecting a plurality of the cards each placedserially with one another in a series forming a collection of two ormore cards at the surface region of the housing.

Another compact reading game system 200 is illustrated in FIG. 12, wherethe apparatus has a generally cylindrical platform 202. The platform isdivided into several portions. A lower portion 204 of the housingincludes an LED base 206 for providing feed back to the players and forstoring the NFC tag reader, the antenna subsystem, the processor, theaudio subsystem and other electronics for operation. Above the lowerportion 204 is an actuator in the form of a selection dial 210 which aplayer twists to input data to the game system. It is noted that thetwistable dial 210 is a substitute for the alternative actuators 60, 62,64 and 70 shown in FIG. 2 or the actuator 66, FIG. 9. The selection dial210 includes a top reading surface 212, FIGS. 12 and 13, for placementof one or more cards, such as the card 220.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the bottom surface 222 is illustratedshowing a battery cover 224 and a battery compartment 226. Referring toFIGS. 17 and 18, the reader 230 and electronics 232 are shown. In FIGS.19-22, rotation of the dial 210 and of the card 220 is shown inrotational positions of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.

The game systems disclosed in detail above have great play value, arefun to use and easy to operate, and yet the game systems are eachcompact, structurally robust, and they may be produced at reasonablecost.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided featuresfor an improved game system. While particular embodiments and variationsof the present invention have been shown and described in great detail,it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the invention in itsbroader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings are offered by way of illustrations only and not aslimitations. The actual scope of the invention is to be defined by thesubsequent claims as mandated by the United States Code, Title 35,Section 112, when viewed in their proper perspective based on the priorart.

What is claimed is:
 1. A playing card reader game system for readingmultiple types of information identifiers, the system comprising: amultiplicity of integrated circuit tags and multiple playing cards, eachtag including type information identifiers for transmitting one or moreof the type information identifiers associated with the tag, each of themultiple playing cards including at least one tag associated therewith;a housing comprising only a single reading area at a surface region ofthe housing for collecting playing cards each placed serially with oneanother in a series forming a collection of the multiple playing cardsat the surface region of the housing; an antenna subsystem in thehousing with an antenna signal range to receive the type informationidentifiers associated with the collection of cards at the surfaceregion; a tag reader for reading the type information identifiersreceived with the antenna subsystem from each card of the collection ofcards at the surface region; a light source for a plurality ofilluminating colors in relation to the surface region of the housing; aninformation processor receiving the type information identifiers fromthe tag reader; and an interface to the information processor for asmart device in communication with the information processor, theinformation processor identifying the type information identifiersreceived for the collection of cards at the surface region for use bythe smart device, wherein the cards may be collected as stacked inrelation to the single reading area at the surface region of the housingwith the smart device then reading and making game system adjustmentsduring the game.
 2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising anactuator for selecting the type information identifiers associated withthe cards at the surface region to be received with the antennasubsystem.
 3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the actuatorfurther changes the plurality of the illuminating colors, the actuatorfurther selecting the type information identifiers associated with thecards at the surface region to be received with the antenna subsystem.4. The system recited in claim 3, further comprising an audio subsystemin communication with the information processor at the housing forissuing announcement sounds responsive to the tag reader, light sourceand actuator.
 5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the smart devicefurther controls the light source for the plurality of illuminatingcolors with reference to the type information identifiers associatedwith the cards at the surface region to be received.
 6. The systemrecited in claim 5, wherein the cards further comprise external visualindicia thereon corresponding with one or more of the plurality ofilluminating colors and with reference to the type informationidentifiers associated with the cards at the surface region to bereceived.
 7. The system recited in claim 5, said housing comprising acircular platform housing defining an outer diameter about the singlereading area, and wherein the actuator comprises a rotating actuatorwhich changes the plurality of illuminating colors for selecting theexternal visual indicia associated with the cards which may be played atthe surface region of the housing by the player.
 8. The system recitedin claim 5, wherein the smart device controls the audio subsystem forissuing the announcement and music composition sounds responsive to thetag reader, light source and actuator.
 9. The system recited in claim 1,wherein each playing card comprises a playing card surface area, and thehousing comprises a first housing surface area less than five times (5×)the playing card surface area.
 10. The system recited in claim 1,wherein each playing card comprises a playing card surface area, and thesingle reading area comprises a surface region surface area less thantwo times (2×) the playing card surface area.
 11. A playing card readergame system for reading multiple types of information identifiers, thesystem comprising: a multiplicity of integrated circuit tags andmultiple playing cards, each tag including type information identifiersfor transmitting one or more of the type information identifiersassociated with the tag, each of the multiple playing cards including atleast one tag associated therewith, each playing card comprising asingle playing card surface area; a housing comprising only a singlereading area at a surface region of the housing for collecting playingcards each placed serially with one another in a series forming acollection of the multiple playing cards at the surface region of thehousing, wherein the cards may be collected as stacked in relation tothe single reading area at the surface region of the housing; an antennasubsystem in the housing with an antenna signal range to receive thetype information identifiers associated with the collection of cardsonly at the surface region; a light source for source for a plurality ofilluminating colors in relation to the surface region of the housing,wherein the light source illuminates one or colors with reference to thetype information identifiers associated with the cards at the surfaceregion to be received; and a single tag reader for reading the typeinformation identifiers received with the antenna subsystem from eachcard of the collection of cards at the surface region, the system onlyincluding the single tag reader for reading the type informationidentifiers.
 12. The system recited in claim 11, further comprising: aninformation processor; an actuator at the housing for changing theplurality of illuminating colors, the actuator further selecting thetype information identifiers associated with the cards at the surfaceregion to be received with the antenna subsystem; and an audio subsystemin communication with the information processor at the housing forissuing announcement sounds and music composition sounds responsive tothe tag reader, light source and actuator.
 13. The system recited inclaim 12, wherein the cards further comprise external visual indiciathereon corresponding with one or more of the plurality of illuminatingcolors and with reference to the type information identifiers associatedwith the cards at the surface region to be received, wherein theactuator changes the plurality of illuminating colors for selecting theexternal visual indicia associated with the cards which may be played atthe surface region of the housing by the player.
 14. The system recitedin claim 12, wherein the audio subsystem issues the announcement andmusic composition sounds responsive to the tag reader, light source andactuator.
 15. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the cards stackedat the single reading area are collected without regard to theorientation of placement of each card at the surface region of thehousing.
 16. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the cards may becollected as stacked in relation to the single reading area at thesurface region of the housing with a smart device then reading andmaking game system adjustments during the game.
 17. A playing cardreader game method for reading multiple types of informationidentifiers, the method comprising the steps of: providing amultiplicity of integrated circuit tags and multiple playing cards, eachtag including type information identifiers for transmitting one or moreof the type information identifiers associated with the tag, each of themultiple playing cards including at least one tag associated therewith;reading at a single reading area only at a single surface region of ahousing for collecting playing cards each placed serially with oneanother in a series forming a collection of the multiple playing cardsat the surface region of the housing, wherein the cards may be collectedas stacked in relation to the single reading area without regard to theorientation of placement of each card at the surface region of thehousing; locating an antenna subsystem in the housing with an antennasignal range to receive the type information identifiers associated withthe collection of cards at the surface region, with only a single tagreader for reading the type information identifiers received with theantenna subsystem from each card of the collection of cards at thesingle surface region; illuminating a light source for a plurality ofcolors in relation to the surface region of the housing; changing theilluminating colors with an actuator selecting the type informationidentifiers associated with the cards at the surface region to bereceived with the antenna subsystem; and providing an audio subsystemfor issuing sounds responsive to the tag reader, light source andactuator.
 18. The method recited in claim 17, further providing a smartdevice for communicating the type information identifiers associatedwith the cards played at the surface region of the housing where a firstplayer places a first card for communicating the type informationidentifiers transmitted to the smart device, and during a second playerturn the second player may stack another card on top of the cardcollection further communicating the type information identifierstransmitted to the smart device to record type information identifiers.19. The method recited in claim 18, further providing a third player toplay a third card stacked on top of the collection communicating furthertype information identifiers transmitted to the smart device to recordtype information identifiers and make adjustments at the smart deviceduring the game.
 20. The method recited in claim 17, further providing asmart device wherein the cards may be collected as stacked in relationto the single reading area at the surface region of the housing with thesmart device then reading and making game system adjustments during thegame.